Everything You Need to Know About Bio-Oil

Bio-Oil Skincare Oil really needs no introduction, it’s a cult favourite beauty product with thousands of reviews on Amazon, and has a fanbase of celebs, that include Kim K, Priyanka Chopra, Natalie Portman, even Meghan Markle.

This unassuming little bottle of pink is frequently touted as a cure-all for all skin issues. It has long list of skin benefits that includes: improving the appearance of scars and stretch marks, uneven skin tone, wrinkles and fine lines, as well as keeping skin supple and hydrated for healthy radiant skin.

All this for roughly $12 a pop at the drugstore sounds almost too good to be true! It’s no wonder that since its launch in 2002 it has won 223 skincare awards worldwide. Bio-Oil Skincare Oil has become the No. 1 selling skincare product to help minimize the appearance of scars and stretch marks in 18 countries worldwide.

Bio-Oil has powerful blend of natural botanicals and supercharged vitamins including soothing calendula and lavender, alongside Vitamins A and E, which are famed for their ability to increase cell turnover and speed up skin healing, which makes it a must-have beauty product for your bathroom shelf.

Still, many of you are still curious about this little pink bottle of magic. Does Bio-Oil really work? Can you use Bio-Oil for face… yay or nay? Is Bio-Oil safe for pregnancy, and can it help for your acne scars? What about Bio-Oil before and after results? Don’t worry, I’ve teamed up with Bio-Oil Canada to help answer all your top Bio-Oil questions in this post on everything you need to know about Bio-Oil Skincare Oil.

All the Answers to Your Top Bio-Oil Questions

TL;DR, here for just the quick facts? Click below to jump and find the answer to your top Bio-Oil questions, or keep scrolling to read the deatails.

• What’s the History of Bio-Oil?
• What are the Ingredients In Bio-Oil?
• How to Use Bio-Oil?
• Does Bio-Oil Work On Scars?
• Does Bio-Oil Work on Stretch Marks?
• Is Bio-Oil Safe To Use During Pregnancy?
• Does Bio-Oil Work on Dry or Dehydrated Skin?
• Does Bio-Oil Work on the Face for Acne Scars?
• Can you use Bio-Oil on the Face for Lines and Wrinkles?
• Can You Use Bio-Oil for Uneven Skin Tone?
• What are Bio-Oil Before and After Results?

What is the History of Bio-Oil?

The formulation of Bio-Oil was the life’s work of Dieter Beier, a German chemist living in South Africa. He’s no stranger to the skincare industry, with his family business rooted in the the development of world-renowned skincare brand, Oil of Olay, now known just as Olay.

When Dieter Beier acquired Union Swiss, a South African distribution company for European personal care products in 1972. He began an era of research and development which resulted in the launch of Bio‑Oil in 1987. Beier’s concept for the Bio‑Oil formulation was to take vitamins and plant extracts, and suspend them in an oil base.

Despite Beier’s breakthrough, Bio-Oil sat quietly on the shelves of South African retailers for 13 years. The followers it had were loyal, but most consumers hadn’t heard of it. That changed when Beier retired and sold Union Swiss to brothers Justin and David Letchert in 2000.

Within five years Bio‑Oil was the number one selling skincare product in South Africa. Bio‑Oil was then launched in the U.K. in 2003, in Australia the following year, then New Zealand, Japan, Canada, the U.S.A and the Netherlands.

And the expansion has only continued. Today, doctors and dermatologist, alongside beauty gurus and celebrities around the recommend Bio‑Oil for scars, stretch marks, improving skin tone and so much more.

What Are the Ingredients in Bio-Oil?

Bio-Oil Skincare Oil is formulated is a combination of plant extracts and vitamins suspended in an oil base. It contains ingredients derived from calendula, lavender, rosemary and chamomile oil alongside vitamins A and E, and the breakthrough ingredient of PurCellin Oil™, which is a replica of the oil that ducks produce to keep their feathers waterproof.

Bio-Oil has lighter texture than most oils, and has a ‘dry’ oil feeling, making it light, non-greasy, easily absorbable. This is key to Bio-Oil’s effectiveness is the oil base that suspends all the goodness of the plant extracts and vitamins. And because it’s key ingredients are are dissolved in the oil, the product can be penetrate the skin barrier resulting in an effective transport of the ingredients to skin cells.

How to Use Bio-Oil?

There are many benefits and uses Bio-Oil (and if you’re curious here’s a post on 25 Benefits and Uses of Bio-Oil). But how to use Bio-Oil and how to apply Bio-Oil is the key question.

You can use Bio-Oil much like any type of body lotion, straight out of the bottle, by applying a few drops to your hands and then massaging it into the affected area in a circular motion and until it has been completely absorbed. For best results you should apply Bio-Oil twice a day on a daily basis the area of concern.

Does Bio-Oil Work on Scars?

Yes! In clinical trials, 92% of participants showed an improvement in the appearance of their scars after eight weeks of consistently using Bio-Oil. It also helps with pigmentation marks and blemish scars, and can improve the appearance of dark spots from excessive sun exposure.

Its unique formulation of Bio-Oil combines Vitamins A and E which work with the skin to promote cell regeneration. Vitamin E also increases the moisture content of the skin, improving the overall texture and tone of the scar and assisting in the effective healing of the injured skin.

Yes! Bio-Oils is effective in improving the appearance on stretch marks and has won countless awards. In clinical trials 100% of participants showed an improvement in the appearance of their stretch marks. There’s also plenty of anecdotal evidence on forums and blogs supporting these claims as well.

Bio‑Oil helps to prevent the formation and improve the appearance of existing stretch marks formed during pregnancy, teenage growth spurts or periods of rapid weight gain. Since it is oil based, Bio-Oil keeps the skin moisturized and ensuring the skin maintains its maximum elasticity is the body’s best defence against the formation of stretch marks.

Bio-Oil’s mixture of plant extracts and oils conditions the skin while providing cell regenerative effects. And breakthrough ingredient, PurCellin Oil™, allows for easy absorption of Bio-Oil making the skin soft, smooth and supple.

Yes, Bio-Oil is safe to use during pregnancy. The product has been used safely and effectively by pregnant women for years, working to keep the skin moisturized and maximize the skin’s elasticity, thereby reducing the possibility of stretch marks forming.

Bio-Oil Skincare Oil has undergone the safety assessments in accordance with the Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on Cosmetic Products. The toxicological profile, chemical structure, level of inclusion and total level of daily exposure of each ingredient used has been assessed and deemed safe for use, including for use by pregnant women.

Yes! Bio-Oil can be used to moisturize dry skin. It has an oil based formula and unique blend of vitamins and plant extracts provides lasting skin hydration and alleviates the symptoms of dry skin.

Traditional dry skin products such as creams, lotions and body butters are made primarily from water. But because the skin’s barrier is oil based, a more natural way to hold in moisture would be through an oil based formula that acts as a barrier to prevent the rapid moisture loss that can lead to the cyclical nature of dryness.

With ingredients like Vitamin E to increases the moisture content of the skin, Bio Oil Skincare Oil effectively moisturizes the skin to keep it well-hydrated and supple, which also helps to minimize fine lines and wrinkles.

If you’re looking for deeper hydration for skin, you’ll also want to check Bio-Oil Dry Skin Gel, which is a dry oilgel specially formulated for treated the driest of skin.

Does Bio-Oil Work on the Face for Acne Scars?

Yes! Although Bio-Oil Skincare Oil is geared heavily towards minimizing the appearance of scars and stretch marks. But it can also do the same for acne scarring, even on the delicate skin on your face.

In 2012 a study on acne scarring was done on people with newly formed acne scars. 84% of participants reported an improvement in the condition of their scars after applying the oil twice daily for 10 weeks, with 90% of testers also confirming that using the oil reduced the redness of their scarring.

Another point to note is that despite being an oil, the Bio-Oil formula is actually noncomedogenic, so you can use it on your face and not need to worry about clogging your pores.

Can you use Bio-Oil on the Face for Lines and Wrinkles?

Yes! Bio-Oil Skincare Oil is safe to use on the delicate skin of your face and the formula is actually noncomedogenic, so not need to worry about clogging your pores.

Kim Kardashian West has made no secret of her love for Bio-Oil, “It prevents wrinkles around my eyes and stretch marks over my body,” she said of the skincare oil way back in 2013, while Kourtney Kardashian confirmed to Allure that she has also followed Kim’s lead, using Bio-Oil around her eyes to prevent signs of aging.

The Bio-Oil formula contains high quantities of vitamin A, which is where retinol is derived from, along with vitamin E, and both are known for their regenerative properties for skin.

A 2011 study on aging skin also backs up the Kardashians’ skincare regimen, finding that after applying Bio-Oil twice a day for 12 weeks, 94% of testers reported a “significant” improvement in the appearance of UV damage to their skin which is the number one cause of lines and wrinkles.

Can You Use Bio-Oil for Uneven Skin Tone?

Yes! Bio-Oil can even tackle this tricky problem. Whether your complexion is dealing with sun damage or it’s fluctuating hormones that are upsetting the balance, using the oil daily on your complexion can help to regulate hyperpigmentation, aka darker spots or patches.

It comes back to the blend of vitamins and botanical extracts which include calendula, rosemary, and chamomile found in Bio-Oil, and their ability to replenish UV-damaged skin cells. A 2011 study on uneven skin tone carried out in Texas found a “statistically significant improvement” in the appearance of uneven skin tone for 86% of its testers, who each applied Bio-Oil twice a day for 12 weeks.

What are Bio-Oil Before and After Results?

Over the years, a number of clinical trials have been conducted to substantiate Bio‑Oil’s various claims, from the reduction of scars, stretch marks, uneven skin tone, to treating aging skin and dehydrated skin. Many of the before and after results have been amazing, so to learn more check out all Bio-Oil Skincare Oil studies and results.

Read more on Bio-Oil:

• 25 Bio-Oil Uses You Didn’t Know About
• The Hair Secret I Swear By: Bio-Oil for Hair
• Self-care Sunday: Have a Spa Day at Home with Bio-Oil
• How to Add Bio-Oil to Your Daily Beauty Routine
• A New Way to Treat Dry Skin: Bio-Oil Dry Skin Gel
• I Used Bio-Oil Dry Skin Gel for 14 Days and This is What Happened…
• Best Facial Oils for Gua Sha

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